Cork and Kilkenny Hurling Rivalry - Famous Moments

Famous Moments

• Cork 6-8 : 0-2 Kilkenny (June 24, 1894 at the Phoenix Park) - An inauspicious start to one of the greatest rivals in hurling. Cork won on probably the most unsuitable playing surface in hurling history after somebody neglected to get the grass cut at the original venur in Ashtown. The goalposts were uprooted and spectators and players alike moved to the Phoenix Park after a long delay. Cork, represented by Blackrock, gave an exhibition of hurling and led by 3-4 to 0-1 at the interval. Each side made exactly the same return in the second-half to give Cork the victory.
• Kilkenny 2-7 : 3-3 Cork (September 3, 1939 at Croke Park) - On the same day that England and France declared war on Germany the All-Ireland hurling final entered the realms of folklore as the famous 'thunder and lightning final', so called because the climax of the game was played in a fierce thunderstorm. A record crowd of 39,000 for a Cork-Kilkenny game saw both sides remain level for much of the game. Kilkenny pulled forward by three points at one stage, however, Willie Campbell landed a long-range free in the net for a dramatic equalising goal for Cork. While it looked as if the game was heading for a replay Kilkenny's Terry Leahy whipped over the winning point after he connected with a Paddy Phelan 70-yards free. With that the long whistle sounded and Kilkenny were the champions.
• Kilkenny 0-14 : 2-7 Cork (September 7, 1947 at Croke Park) - Regarded by many as the greatest All-Ireland hurling final of them all there was much at stake for both sides. After losing back-to-back championship deciders in 1945 and 1946, Kilkenny faced the unpalatable prospect of becoming the first team in championship history to lose three-in-a-row. Cork, on the other hand, were hoping to capture their sixth All-Ireland title in seven years. Like many of their previous contests there was little to separate these two sides. Kilkenny took a narrow 0-7 to 0-5 lead at the interval, however, the game was far from over. Mossie O'Riordan and Joe Kelly got Cork back into the game with two second-half goals, however, Kilkenny's Jim Langton and Terry Leahy were the key players with tallies of 0-3 and 0-6 respectively. As the game headed towards a replay it was Leahy who chipped over the winning point. It was the first time since 1893 that Kilkenny failed to score a goal against Cork.
• Kilkenny 3-24 : 5-11 Cork (September 3, 1972 at Croke Park) - Regarded as one of the classic games of the modern era, this was the only eighty-minute championship decider between Cork and Kilkenny. In a game that produced a plethora of scores, Cork's ability to find the net gave them a 2-8 to 0-12 lead at the interval. Halfway through the second-half Cork were on form and stretched their lead to eight points. Drastic action was required for Kilkenny and Eddie Keher was deployed closer to the Cork goal. One of the most abiding memories of that game is of Keher grabbing the sliotar out of the sky and racing up the wing in the shadow of the Hogan Stand. From that sideline position Keher pucked the sliothar as if going for a point, however, the sliotar dropped short, deceiving Cork goalkeeper Paddy Barry, and ending up in the back of the net. After scoring that goal an almost emotionless Keher simply turned around to go back to his normal playing position with blood pouring out of a cut over his eye. Keher finished the game with a tally of 2 goals and 9 points as Kilkenny scored seven points without reply to capture a memorable victory.
• Cork 1-15 : 2-8 Kilkenny (September 3, 1978 at Croke Park) - Not the greatest of finals between these two sides, however, it was notable as Cork attempted to capture a third All-Ireland title in-a-row. The game ebbed and flowed for much of the seventy minutes with no side breaking away. With thirteen minutes left Jimmy Barry-Murphy hit a low shot in towards the goal and it bobbled in past Noel Skehan. Commentator Michael O'Hehir summed up the significance of the goal by saying "...and Jimmy Barry-Murphy, the scorer of the goal that could win an All-Ireland." The goal turned out to be the deciding factor as Cork went on to win and secure the elusive three-in-a-row.